Described by Critics’ Week topper Charles Tesson as a “Protestant horror film with a feminist twist,” the stylish coming-of-age movie follows a young girl who, while discovering love, transforms into a werewolf and becomes hunted down in her fishing village.

Pic marks the directorial debut of Arnby, a successful commercials director who is talks to be signed by a U.S. agent.

Underscoring the movie’s crossover potential, Gaumont has managed to pre-sell it to nearly every key territories, including the U.S. where TWC/Radius will release. Other pre-sales were inked with Madman for Australia, Altitude Film for U.K., Prokino for Germany and Odeon for Greece.

“When Animals Dream” is produced by Copenhagen-based Alphaville Pictures with Paris-based film financier Back Up Films. It was backed by the Danish Film Institute.